Epionce: Sunscreen and Skin Barrier Health

Can a healthy skin barrier optimize sunscreen efficacy and safety? Yes! Not only does a healthy skin barrier protect against external environmental factors, including pollutants and UVL, it also protects against active ingredient absorption to deeper skin levels, which can affect proliferating cells and their organelles.

The Scenario:

Sunscreen photoprotective molecules bind to cholesterol and phospholipids on the corneocyte membranes and to stratum corneum barrier lipid lamellae which contain cholesterol, ceramides and free fatty acids. If the skin barrier is healthy, these structures remain intact and sunscreen has enough surface area and molecules for binding, thus providing prolonged substantivity and photoprotection. If the skin barrier is not healthy, sunscreen ingredients can penetrate through the stratum corneum into the epidermis, reducing its protection exponentially, while also creating greater systemic absorption and toxicity.

The Solution:

Repair and optimize the stratum corneum barrier! Epionce Renewal Facial products were the first barrier repairing products that use the ideal ratio of three key lipids on the market. They were proven to be twice as effective as petrolatum in barrier repair and four times better than other leading moisturizers.

Barrier Repair Technology

The main function of the stratum corneum, or skin barrier, is to protect the body against damage caused by environmental insults – including UV exposure and pollution. It is a shield and first line of defense against the outside world.

A healthy skin barrier protects the young, maturing skin cells deeper in the skin from being damaged. Therefore, it is vital to care for this protective barrier.

Lipids (oils) in the skin are critical to its function and structure because they act like the glue that holds the skin cells of the stratum corneum together. A normal, healthy ratio of lipids in the skin is 1:1:1 – 1 cholesterol, 1 ceramide and 1 free fatty acids. Epionce founder, Dr. Carl Thornfeldt, and his research team discovered that adjusting the lipid ratios to 3:1:1 – 3 cholesterol, 1 ceramide and 1 fatty acids – triggered skin healing. This original proprietary concept was built into the foundation of the Epionce product line as the Barrier Repair Technology (BR).

Key Benefits of Barrier Repair Technology:

• The first cholesterol-dominant barrier repair moisturizer on the mar-ket based on completely original scientific research.
• Repairs and optimizes the skin’s natural protective barrier.
• Clinically proven to improve signs of skin aging.
• Clinically proven to rapidly repair wounded skin post-treatment.
• Helps improve symptoms of skin disease, like eczema, psoriasis, acne and keratosis pilaris.

Dedicated to Delivering the Beauty of Healthy Skin

In 1977, Dr. Carl R. Thornfeldt received his medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon. In the years since, he has dedicated his life to help alleviate problem skin conditions and improve the overall health of his patients.

After years of skin barrier research and seeing firsthand the effects of skin disease in his private practice, Dr. Thornfeldt developed the Epionce brand to help him be a better doctor. As a physician, he understood the importance of prescription therapies to clear conditions but needed a safe and effective product to help patients maintain and enhance their results.

In 2002, he launched the Epionce flagship product, Renewal Facial Cream and quickly began seeing dramatic improvements in his patients.

Dr. Thornfeldt was adamant about performing double-blind, independent clinical trials using the market-ready product – even against prescription products – to prove Epionce is safe and effective. After nearly 20 clinical studies, Epionce is one of the most rigorously tested cosmeceutical lines available today. It’s Dr. Thornfeldt’s passion and care for others that has led to Epionce being highly regarded today by dermatologists and other skincare professionals alike – both in the United States and abroad.

With the corporate office and FDA inspected manufacturing facilities headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Dr. Thornfeldt works closely with the Epionce team to ensure the highest quality skincare is produced. Furthermore, he continually researches new theories in skincare to bring the newest and most innovative products to market.